Illinois News

Accident Fund Holdings Opens Third Coast Underwriters

Accident Fund Holdings Inc. has created Third Coast Underwriters – a new, Chicago-based, specialty markets operation that will offer workers’ compensation insurance for underserved markets that have complex risks. Third Coast Underwriters will offer policies written on the paper of …

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Joseph James & Associates

Illinois-based insurance brokerage and risk management services firm, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., has acquired Joseph James & Associates of Dublin, Ohio. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Established in 1989, Joseph James & Associates offers a wide range …

Best Affirms RLI Group’s ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of RLI Group and its members. Best also affirmed the ICR of “a-” and debt rating of “a-” on $100 …

Best Affirms Hiscox USA Group’s ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Hiscox USA Group, and its lead member, Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. (HICI), based in Geneva, Illinois. Hiscox USA is …

Smart Choice Agency Market Program Expands to 6 More States

The North Carolina-based Smart Choice Agents Program, which says it currently provides personal and commercial lines markets for some 3,000 independent agencies in 32 states, is expanding into six additional states. The program is moving into Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New …

Road Hazard: 20% of U.S. Drivers Would Flunk If Given Driving Test

The nation’s most knowledgeable drivers are in Idaho, Wisconsin, Montana and Kansas, while the least knowledgeable are in New York, New Jersey, Hawaii and California. That’s according to results from the 2009 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, which found that …

Dufkis Joins Assurance Agency

Assurance Agency Ltd., based in Schaumburg, Ill., has added Robert Dufkis, to serve clients in the areas of both property and casualty, and employee benefits. Dufkis has 18 years of insurance industry experience, and has worked with Illinois municipalities, educational …

New York Insurance Regulator Hands Out Large Fines

New York insurance regulators have handed out some sizable fines in the last several months, including one for $360,000 to a large national insurer that mischarged auto insurance customers. Clarendon National Insurance paid the fine for violations of state insurance …

Flood Insurance Rates Cut for Property Owners Affected By Remapping

Property owners across the country fearing they may be forced to buy expensive flood insurance under a push to draw up new floodplain maps will catch a break by being offered the coverage at sharply lower rates for two years, …

Best Affirms EMC Group’s ‘A-‘ Ratings; Revises Outlook to Positive

A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of EMC Insurance Companies (EMC) and its seven P/C members, which operate …